Shan again makes no bones about his new life as a half-vampire in the shadow of his full-vampire master, Mr Crepsley. It's brutal and gory, but also fascinating and compelling. Darren's life is different from those around him and he's plagued by feelings of rejection. He's fit and energetic, with superb sensory perception--and he's growing stronger every day. Yet, he is tormented by the human life he has left behind. He can't make normal friends and has no family except the strange and unearthly collection of hobos who inhabit his usual home--the touring circus-of-horrors that is the Cirque du Freak.

In Tunnels of Blood, Shan and the snake-boy Evra--who seems hell-bent on tracking down a rogue vampire on the loose--visit a nameless city on the coat-tails of Crepsley. Vampire law, such that as is, has been violated and a particularly foul and loathsome creature of the night is killing humans in a distinctly uncivilised way. But the monster has picked Crepsley's home town in which to wreak havoc and he must be stopped. Darren, however, has suspicions about Crepsley's motives and his intervention at a crucial point in the hunt threatens dire consequences for all concerned.

Throughout, Shan is debunking myths of the undead by the page-load and then creating a fair few of his own too. Garlic and a fear of the cross is hokum it seems, but Vampire Generals and Vampaneze are fair game.

Despite the story being a bit thinner than in the previous two books, it's still inventive and original, with page-turning action and cliffhanging chapters galore. Shan is trying very hard to entertain and he's getting away with it. --John McLay --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

From the Author
ABANDONE HOPE, YE WHO ENTER . . .
Book 3 of The Saga Of Darren Shan, in which Mr Crepsley drags Darren and Evra Von (the snake boy) off to a large city. While he sneaks off at night on some mysterious errand or other, Darren and Evra enjoy themselves, taking life easy and watching lots of TV. When a girl called Debbie enters Darren's life in the run-up to Christmas, all he wants to concentrate on is getting to know her better and taking her out on dates. But fate is cruel where Darren Shan's concerned, and when dead bodies are discovered by the police -- drained of blood -- the finger of blame points in one direction only, and Darren sets out to put a stop to the vampire who blooded him, by the most brutal means necessary ...

The third book in The Saga Of Darren Shan takes us away from the Cirque Du Freak, and introduces us to a new place, a dark place, a place of terror, where monsters roam beneath the streets and terrible deals must be struck. To save his friends, Darren must brave the perils of the Tunnels Of Blood and enter a demon's lair. Take the plunge this November and walk with him into the blood-stained darkness ... if you dare! --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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